I'm Still Here!

Our favorite park 

SAMUEL ran into a rock. Poor guy. It looks worse then it was. 

Family photos 2014! 

Joshua's school Halloween party. 

At the Denver temple. 

It has been way too long since I made a post. Probably because we have been moving and getting settled into our new home. I usually post more pics on my Instagram account these days. 

Well we are loving our new home! Colorado's falls aren't that pretty, compared to Tennessee, so I have been really missing "home." 

Our Ward here has been super friendly. And hopefully we won't be moving for a while. We love living by my brother and his wife and son. 

Here are some pictures of our adventures here so far. 

Touching the Denver temple. 

I think this year we have been to 6 trunk or treats. And at one we got free pumpkins. I remember when joshua was little and we only went to the ward Halloween party and called it good. Man, we've come a long way as parents. 

Matt is loving his new job and we are finally getting settled. We had to add some things to our home, like fans, blinds, storm doors, and my favorite...some French doors! We were able to replace those horrible slidding doors. 

Before 

After. I love them! And it makes the house seem much more roomier! 

Hope you all have a safe HALLOWEEN! 

"But If Not..."

I have felt more than overwhelmed with this move. I have had to move with three little kids. And try and update all our information with three kids. Most days I was moving so fast I didn't realize how tired I was. 

The other day I had a breakdown. In TN there are amazing schools and kindergarten is all day. Joshua would have rode the bus and the school was well staffed with high standards. Joshua's teacher here sent an email out with some of the goals he would meet at the end of the year and I lost it. He was already doing those things. I began to worry. 

After a long talk with Matt and realizing the only reason Joshua is smart is because I TAUGHT him. It wasn't ever a school. I realized that if I wanted Joshua to be stellar I was the one who had to make it happen. A true job requirement of a mother. To teach. I felt overwhelmed at first because I was looking forward to not working with him so much and focusing on my other two boys. But I figured out that isn't how it works. 

I read two amazing talk and here are my favorite highlights from them. 

They knew that they could trust God--even if things didn’t turn out the way they hoped.4 They knew that faith is more than mental assent, more than an acknowledgment that God lives. Faith is total trust in Him.

Faith is believing that although we do not understand all things, He does. Faith is knowing that although our power is limited, His is not. Faith in Jesus Christ consists of complete reliance on Him.

But If Not … 

http://www.lds.org/general-conference/2004/04/but-if-not?lang=eng

President Joseph F. Smith’s counsel applies today: “Do not let your children out to specialists … , but teach them by your own precept and example, by your own fireside. Be a specialist yourself in the truth.”12

“When you recognize the importance of teaching your children, you become humble, because at once you realize that this is accomplished by precept and example. You cannot be one thing and effectively teach another. You must live and study and pray for the constant companionship of the Holy Ghost. You must purify and organize your life so that your example and leadership reflect the light of the gospel of Jesus Christ.

Fatherhood, an Eternal Calling

http://www.lds.org/general-conference/2004/04/fatherhood-an-eternal-calling?lang=eng

Both were an answer to a silent prayer in my heart. Does life ever slow down? Do I ever get to rest? Doesn't he see how exhausted I am? 

I know my Heavenly Father loves me and cares about me. He daily proves that to me. 

Our second weekend here we went to see a national park in Colorado Springs. It was beautiful and everyone had fun. There are so many outdoor things to do here and I am determined that we do some of them. Joshua and I are working on dad to get him to let is rock climb as a family. 

First day of school. He was more than ready and I cried. I'm a softy. 

Everyday we walk to school the skies look like this. But then by 3 o clock it rains. For a desert it certainly rains a lot here. Have loved the cool mornings here. 

Colorado

We made it! 18.5 hours later we are no longer living in the south. All of us seem to be allergic to this new mountain air. Too bad, because it is beautiful here. 

It didn't sink in what I was leaving until we left. I had to move so fast and take care of so much that I didn't have time to think about it. But once we arrived I realized how special TN was. 

But I know a new adventure is waiting for us. I am looking forward to starting those and moving into our new home! Yes, we haven't been here a week and we put an offer on a home. Keep in mind we have been aware of the possibility that we would move since March. We have been searching for the perfect area and house. We have been house hunting everyday since we arrived. 

I have been worn out by the fact that our stuff is illcategorized and I don't know where anything is. I have had to take three little kids around to register for new schools, new license, house hunting, and unpacking. 

Today I decided to would play my piano to get some stress relief. Guess what my hymn book opened too. 

I laughed. There are no coincidences. 

Tonight I took sometime out for myself and it was way overdue. But is it sad I only bought my kids stuff?

Such is a life of a mom.